Bishapur

Relief II

Compared to the first
relief of Bishapur,
the second is far more complex and, fortunately, a lot better preserved. Another difference
is that the first monument commemorates Shapur's investiture and his first
victory, which he presents as gifts from Ahuramazda;
in this relief, we see just a triumphant king, adored by his subjects.
The only sign of divine help is a winged figure that brings the ring of
power (cydaris) and the diadem.

Gordian III, dead

Philip, begging

Shapur had already defeated a Roman army, which he had commemorated
on the first
relief. In 244, the emperor Gordian
III had been killed, and his successor Philippus
Arabs owed the throne to Shapur. On the second relief, we can see the
dead Gordian underneath the victor's horse.

In front of this horse, we can see Philip, Gordian's praetorian
prefect, kneeling and begging to be spared. Indeed, he was recognized
as emperor by Shapur and the Senate. On his second relief, Shapur reminded the viewers of his earlier success. However, in 260, the Sasanian
king had defeated another Roman emperor, Valerian,
and had even taken him captive. The main theme of the second relief was the glorification of the king's second
victory. An interesting detail on the picture to the left is Philip's sword, which
is a correct rendering of a Roman weapon.

Valerian, captured

Here, we see how the king seizes the captured
emperor Valerian by the hand. This is also shown on a monument at Naqš-i
Rustam, where the triumph is depicted in a similar
fashion. Valerian's men, of which a substantial part appears to have belonged
to the
Sixth
legion Ferrata, were forced to build the bridge at Shushtar
and the city of Bishapur.

Behind Philip, to the right, two important courtiers can be seen. One of them may be the
high priest Kartir, who made Zoroastrianism
the state religion and organized persecutions of adherents of other faiths.
The other one, who carries a large sword, may or may not be the Surena,
an important commander. We cannot be certain, because the badges on
their caps, which usually help to identify the people depicted on the
reliefs, are absent.

On both sides of the central scene, subjects of the king are depicted:
two groups of cavalry to the left, five groups of infantry
to the right. They salute the king with their right fist and a pointed
index finger. This gesture can be seen on many Sasanian rock reliefs,
and is still made by Bakhtiari nomads.

Today, the relief is protected by a fence, but it has become a favorite pick nick spot for many families.